Delhi tragedy: 3 AC mechanics found dead in room; gas leak suspected | Delhi News
NEW DELHI: Three air conditioning mechanics were found dead in their one-room accommodation in Dakshinpuri’s JJ cluster in south Delhi on Saturday morning. Police suspect suffocation due to a possible gas leak after finding cylinders filled with gas for AC compressors in the room. They are verifying such a leak.The deceased persons were identified as Imran alias Salman, 30, Mohsin, 20, and Kapil, 18. They lived and worked together as AC mechanics. One of their colleagues, Haseeb, is in critical condition and receiving treatment at a hospital.According to police, the room had poor ventilation and was being used both as a residence and a workplace.The cops received a police control room alert around 11am after Zeeshan reported that his brother was not responding to phone calls and that the house was locked from inside. A team from the local police station rushed to the scene and broke open the door to find four men lying unconscious on the first floor.The victims were initially taken to Ambedkar Hospital and then shifted to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre. Three were declared brought dead, while Haseeb was receiving treatment.A police officer said that upon entering the room, a strong smell of gas was perceptible. “There were no signs of forced entry or external injuries on the bodies. A gas leak appears to be the likely cause,” the officer said, adding that the forensic report would decide whether it was chlorofluorocarbons or other gas.Preliminary investigation suggests that the victims might have fallen unconscious during the night after inhaling the leaked gas while asleep. Police noted that the men had lived at the location since Oct and the room lacked proper ventilation. “They stored gas cylinders inside and may have been doing repair work there as well,” the officer added. “We are awaiting the post-mortem report, which will confirm the exact cause of death.“The cops have launched an investigation in this regard. The one room set measured around 25 sq yards and had a kitchen and bathroom.Mohammad Ayub, a relative of Mohsin and Haseeb, said they were cousins, while Imran was a friend who worked with them in the AC repair business. Ayub received a call from his home in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, that no one was answering phone calls. Upon arrival, he found his nephew already there, and police were alerted. According to Ayub, when police entered the room, they found two victims lying on the bed and two on the ground. He noted that the suspected leaking cylinders were kept near the kitchen and one ventilation opening was covered, likely to keep the room chilled while running the air conditioner.
